Merseyland Alternative Radio
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The Early Years
Merseyland Alternative Radio is a pirate radio station that first started broadcasting on 25th October 1979 on 259 metres. The theme tune of the station was "Atlantis" by The Shadows. After about a month they moved to a new frequency, 266 metres 1125 kHz. The original M.A.R was a collaboration between Bert Williams & John Dwyer. It operated at weekends on both Saturday & Sunday from around 9am until Midnight. Some of the early dj's on the station were Dave Simpson, John Dwyer, Paul Jaye, Bert Williams, Mike Stand, Simon James, Paul Raven & Robin Blinde (who later appeared on the Ross Revenge as Robin Ross) Around March 1980 there was split in the camp with Bert Williams and John Dwyer falling out. Merseyland Alternative Radio continued with John Dwyer at the helm, along with Mike Stand, Martin Green, Chris Francis, Matt Black and other dj's came and went. Bert Williams started a new station called Merseyside Music Radio on 259 metres with other ex M.A.R dj's Paul Jaye, Andy Davis, Jim Brown & David Jason. This station was short lived though. Merseyland Alternative Radio's new rival was a station called Radio Elenore. Merseyland Alternative Radio continued on 266 until towards the end of 1981. A short lived attempt was made in 1983 to revive the station but it didn't last long.
Later Years
Merseyland Alternative Radio has been on and off air many times and in many forms. During the 1990's Bert Williams has collaborated with Stephen Bishop, Rick Dane & Steve West to keep the station alive. The station is currently still active on most Bank Holidays and several weekends on 105 FM and broadcasts 24 hours a day on the internet. The current line up of dj's features Bert Williams, Steve West, Andy Davis, Dave Simpson, Steve Martin, Gary Philips, Dave Wilson, Lee Morrison, Jackie Frost, & Blu.
Links and references
* Soundwaves, pirate radio fanzine of the early '80s.
Merseyland Alternative Radio website
Merseyland Alternative Radio webstream
Merseypirates
Andy Davis' Pirate Site
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